Occupancy For Hotels Up 11.3%

May 23, 1985|By Margie Malandro, Business Writer

Broward County hoteliers booked an average 79.7 percent of their rooms in April, an 11.3 percent jump over the 71.6 percent occupancy rate reported during the same period last year, according to statistics released Wednesday.

``Fort Lauderdale is doing great,`` said Chase Burritt, manager of leisue time industries for Laventhol & Horwath, the accounting firm that does the monthly survey. ``It`s a good sign to see that kind of occupancy. (Broward County) is the highest sector (in April occupancy) of all the zones we look at.``

The Broward County occupancy rates came in above the area-wide figures. An average 69.9 percent of South Florida rooms were filled last month, 11 percent more than the 63 percent reported during the same period last year.

The occupancy rates for April -- which Burritt characterized as ``not the best month, but it`s right up there`` -- were strong throughout South Florida, he said. ``It`s almost 70 percent -- and that`s very, very good for hotels.``

While Broward County occupancy was up, the bill for a room fell.

A Broward County room cost $1.89 less in April, dropping to an average $67.78 per night from $69.67 in April 1984. The bill for a South Florida room came to an average $84.34, 10 cents less than the $84.44 paid in April 1984.

In Palm Beach County, the occupancy rate dropped 1.6 percent to 75.6 percent from 76.8 percent during the same period last year. Guests paid an average $146.94 for a room, $14.37 more than the $132.57 they paid during the same month last year.

Dade County also saw hotel occupancy rates increase.

In Miami Beach, occupancy was 63.8 percent compared with 56.4 percent last year; downtown, it was 58.3 percent, compared with 51.6 percent last year; and around the airport it was 73.3 percent, vs. 62 percent.